Shredded Chicken Gorditas

Today I�m joining some other fun people on the interwebz in sharing recipes for Cinco de Mayo (scroll to the bottom for links)! Before we get started, a few notes:

• Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day (that�s in September).
• Cinco de Mayo is the day that marks the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla.
• Since the Battle of Puebla, no country in the Americas has been invaded by any other European military, and it�s believed that this victory also helped the Union army beat the Confederacy in the American Civil War.
• Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated all over Mexico, but is celebrated in the state of Puebla.
• Mexico is a really big country, with tons of regional variations in culture and cuisine. Mexico is not just sombreros, ponchos, chips, and salsa.

This year for Cinco de Mayo, I�m trying to move beyond the thoughtless �cinco de drinko� celebrations I�ve had in the past. How do we navigate celebrating and appreciating a culture that isn't ours, while trying not to appropriate it? I think a good place to start is to learn a fact or two about the actual day. And also to avoid dressing up like racial caricatures. And, if we celebrate with food and drinks, which we tend to do in the US, to branch out and see what else Mexico has to offer, beyond guacamole and margaritas (both of which, are also delicious).

That�s what I�m doing�with Gorditas! You might be thinking �you said to branch out and now you�re eating at Taco Bell�the most Americanized �Mexican� fast food place ever.� Here�s the thing: these aren't your run-of-the-mill Taco Bell gorditas... and also, there is a time and place for Taco Bell. I don�t really eat fast food anymore, and haven�t had Taco Bell in years and years. But�one time in high school, we needed a quick lunch when a bunch of family was in town� and we spent around $100 in the Taco Bell drive-thru. That is a LOT of tacos. And freshman year in college, after a couple months of dorm food, my sister drove my roomie and me to the nearest Taco Bell, far from campus, and seriously, it was so comforting and familiar� it felt like a home cooked meal. In my early twenties, I had many post-drinking, late-night, fourth-meal  chalupa supremes. So yes, while I don�t eat it these days, I admit, there is a time and a place for Taco Bell.

However, gorditas happen to be a real thing beyond the walls of Taco Bell, and, according to my research, are actually nothing like the thick, puffy, fast-food flat-bread-like taco shell you may be familiar with. They are, in fact, little round, fried masa-cakes, that are incredibly easy to make, and can be topped or filled with anything your heart desires, from soft fresh cheese, to ground beef, to chicken tingas. They also taste really good fresh and warm, with a drizzle of honey!

After going back and forth between a few cookbooks, I ended up basing my masa-cake recipe off the one in Mexico: The Cookbook, which is beautiful behemoth of a cookbook (according to a lot of reviews, it�s actually really poorly edited and fairly inaccurate, but as a seasoned home cook, I think it has enough to get me started and provide a ton of inspiration� buy at your own risk, I guess). Rather than a traditional filling, I went with my weeknight standby: a store bought rotisserie chicken, shredded and tossed in warmed enchilada sauce. 

Gorditas with Shredded Chicken 
Adapted from Mexico, the Cookbook
Serves 4

2 cups + 3 tablespoons masa
� cup AP flour
� teaspoon salt
1.5 cup + 2 tablespoons water
Oil with a high smoke point (like vegetable oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed) or ghee

Whisk together the masa, flour, and salt. Add water a tablespoon at a time, until dough is moist, soft, and pliable (but not wet). Roll into 15 balls, and flatten each ball to about �- � inch thick disk.

Heat a couple tablespoons (enough to fully coat the bottom) oil or ghee (I used a mix of both) in a heavy bottomed skillet, over medium heat. Cook a couple of gorditas at a time, a minute or two on each side, until golden and crisp. Drain on a paper towel. Once cool enough to handle, slide open to fill. 

Filling & Topping
� rotisserie chicken
1 cup green enchilada sauce, warmed
Refried beans, heated
Cotija cheese, crumbled
Sour cream
Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes
Avocado

Shred chicken and toss with warmed sauce. Fill each gordita with a dollop of beans and a spoonful of chicken. Top with cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and avo, as desired.



Wait, there's more! 
Check out a bunch of fun Cinco de Mayo inspired recipes! Everything from cocktails and snacks to desserts and dinner ideas!

Margarita Granita by Feast + West
Cinco de Mayo Party Inspiration and Recipes by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Poblano & Mushroom Tosadas by The Mexitalian
Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Agua Fresca by Will Frolic for Food
Street Corn-style Roasted Potatoes by A Little Gathering
Pork & Black Bean Stew by think fruitful
Tequila Lime Tart by Love & Flour
Crispy Fish Tacos with Cajun Mayo by Winstead Wandering
Strawberry Watermelon Agua Fresca by A Savory Feast
Carne Asada Fries by Tornadough Alli
Mexican Carrot Dogs with Chunky Salsa Verde by Strength and Sunshine
Raspberry Lime Rickey Margaritas by Feed Me Phoebe
Slow Cooked Carnitas Style Chicken by Simple and Savory
Chicken Fajita Sandwich by Brunch-n-Bites
Cantaloupe Mint Margaritas by The Speckled Palate
Brussel Sprout, Wild Mushroom, Avocado and Feta Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa by Arthur Street Kitchen
Spiced Chocolate Ice Cream with Roasted Pepitas by Bethany Grow
Roasted Veggie Salsa by Living Well Kitchen
Seared Scallop Tacos with Spring Mango Salsa and Avocado Cream by Domesticate ME!
Blackberry mint agua fresca by the Grant life
Nightshade Free Southwest Salad by I Say Nomato
Southwestern orzo salad by Family Food on the Table
Watermelon Mint Margarita by Gold & Bloom
Mix-Your-Own Guac Bar by Hey There Sunshine
Blood Orange Margaritas by Glisten and Grace
Veggie Stuffed Chiles Rellenos with Avocado Cream by Hello Little Home
Traditional Homemade Flour Tortillas by Sustaining the Powers
Slow Cooker Red Chicken Enchiladas by Sustaining the Powers
Sizzling Texas Fajitas by Sustaining the Powers
Margarita Poke Cake by Pink Cake Plate
Cheesy Southwest Egg Rolls by Pink Cake Plate
Mojito Cupcakes by The Rustic Willow
Margarita Shrimp Tacos by Macheesmo
Pineapple Cilantro Salsa by Feast + West
One Pot Taco Soup by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Tequila Lime Cupcakes with Margarita Buttercream by Sugar Dish Me
Slow Cooker Chipotle Turkey Tacos by Two Places at Once
Margarita Bar by Mixplorology

Changing the diet on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod,  I presented the following recipes that have been adapted to Low Glycemic Index ingredients to benefit people living with diabetes.  

Curry leaves can be purchased at Dino's Grocery Mart on Notre Dame, Dong Thai groceries on Notre Dame, Young's (three locations), Lucky's, etc.

Eggs, Potatoes and Cauliflower

There are a number of steps in preparation but its really worth clearing the preparation space, getting the mise en place all ready and going ahead with this recipe. This dish can easily be made ahead of time and reheated. Vegans can enjoy this recipe without the eggs. The addition of sweet potatoes or yams makes this more friendly for living with diabetes as the long fibres break down slower, thus preventing peaks in blood sugar.  This would also be perfect for Passover.

1 head cauliflower
1 cup UNSWEETENED coconut (original recipe called for freshly grated)
1 teaspoon salt
4 Roma tomatoes, cubed
1-inch cube of fresh ginger, cut smaller
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil (original recipe called for vegetable oil)
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1-inch stick of cinnamon
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-3 fresh hot green chilies, minced
1 tsp ground turmeric
6-12 fresh curry leaves (use more if using dried curry leaves)
2-4 yams/sweet potatoes, cubed (original recipe called for boiling potatoes)
4-6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon garam masala


1. Put the coconut into a blender container on high and slowly add 1 cup very hot water. Let blend for more than a minute. Strain through a cheesecloth or fine sieve, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. This is the first coconut milk. Set aside.

Put the coconut that remains back in the blender and repeat with another cup of very hot water. Strain in another container and set aside. This is the second coconut milk.

2. Hard boil the eggs and cool, peel and cut in half. Set aside.

3. Cube yams.

4. Break the cauliflower into flowerets or bite-sized pieces.

5. Put the ginger, garlic, and chilies in a small blender cup and add 1/4 cup water. Blend until it makes a smooth paste.

6. Heat the oil in a large cooking pot over medium heat. When hot, first put in the fenugreek seeds. After a couple of seconds, add the cinnamon stick. Add the onion and fry for about 2 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic-chili paste and fry for another minute.

7. Add tomatoes, turmeric and curry leaves to the pot. Keep stirring and frying for 2 minutes. Now add half of the second coconut milk., cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

8. Uncover, add the yams or potatoes, cauliflower, 1 tsp salt and the remaining half of the second coconut milk. Stir gently and bring to a simmer.

9. Cover and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice.

10. Uncover again and put in the halved eggs, cut side up, the first coconut milk and the lemon juice. Mix very gently, spooning the sauce over the eggs. Cover and simmer another 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the garam masala. Mix gently.

Enjoy!

Filipino Avocado Milkshake

This is the traditional recipe.  I will change it by dropping the sugar, milk and ice-cream and using stevia, frozen condensed fat free milk.  Avocados are recommended as a snack before bed due to the long fibres and the good fats which are beneficial for people living with diabetes.  The Australian Diabetes Association recommends 1 avocado per day.

Ingredients

1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and cubed
5 cubes ice
1 tbs stevia
1 teaspoon fresh lemon or lime juice (optional)
1 tin frozen fat-free condensed milk

Directions

Place avocado, ice, stevia milk, lemon juice, into a blender. Puree until smooth.

Arugula w/ Avocado, Parmesan & Lemon

This ain't rocket science, but I eat this salad so often that I thought I should share it with you guys, my Internet Friends!  It's simple, simple, simple, and really doesn't require a recipe.  With a few, fresh ingredients, you will have a salad you can whip up for lunch all week long.  I take peppery arugula, creamy avocado, and salty shaved Parmesan and top it with lemon and good olive oil!  I know, I sound like Ina when I say "good olive oil" but it really makes a difference (I usually have two types of olive oil on hand, a cheaper brand that I cook with and a nicer brand for dressings or drizzling).  Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and pepper and you have the tastiest, healthiest salad.

It also felt appropriate to share on Earth Day.  Since it's so green and leafy.  

By the way, I had a different plan for today's post, but as soon as I learned of Prince's death yesterday I was pretty much useless for the rest of the day.  I wandered around my house, forcing my kids to listen to his music, and thought about growing up in Minnesota where his music was born.  So many important memories were accompanied by his songs, the least of them being my high school graduation in, yes, 1999.  It feels weird knowing he took his last breath yesterday, but his music will always be a humongous part of this world!  

Relationship between Bees, Plants, and People Workshop

To continue on the "Bee" theme...



FREE PUBLIC LECTURE from Langara College:

The Relationship between Bees, Plants and People: Stresses and Opportunities With Brian Campbell



There is an intimate relationship between bees and flowering plants that, due to many changes in the environment, has been under tremendous stress.  Come and learn about some of the conditions that are causing declines in bee populations and how we can better align our activities to support pollinators.



Where: Langara College (100 West 49^th Avenue) Room A122A



When: Thursday April 21^st at 7pm until 8:30pm



Cost: FREE but you must register to attend, as space is limited.



To register call: 604.323.5322 with Conference # 51150.



Brian Campbell, the lead instructor of the Langara Sustainable Urban Beekeeping Program and the founder of Blessed Bee Apiaries and the Bee School. He became immersed in the rich and amazing world of bees while he and his four sons spent many a glorious day observing the curious activities of bees: noticing their consistent patterns, collective activities, and the surprising comparisons to our own human patterns and behaviours. He is a certified bee master and beekeeper, and heavily involved in food security issues in Richmond and the Lower Mainland. He is a former president of the Richmond Beekeepers Association, a member of the Master Gardener Association of BC, and a Sustainable Gardening and Bee Master to West Coast Seeds.



FREE INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE DAY!



Come learn about Permaculture and the Langara Permaculture Design course in a free Introduction to Permaculture day on Saturday April 23rd at Langara College.



YOU MUST REGISTER to attend.



Email Delvin Solkinson: delvin@cosm.org.



He will provide you with a room number and details upon confirmation of registration. Permaculture is a toolkit for the conscious design of our homes, gardens, lifestyles and neighbourhoods. It provides practical solutions to pressing local and global challenges.



For more information, please visit: www.langara.bc.ca/permaculture.

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

Over the weekend, I had overly ripe bananas that needed attention, but I was tired of turning them into bread or muffins.  BOR-ING!  Okay, not boring, delicious, but I've been there done that, you know?  I wanted something new and exciting, so I probably googled something like "bananas baking new and exciting" (not really) and that's when I found this recipe for Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls! I was sold.  I adapted them slightly because the recipe was vegan, and I'm a fan of dairy and gluten and sugar and all of those yummy things.  I actually have a cold and my tastebuds are making everything taste the same (which is a horrible, horrible thing when you love food as much as I do), but I've had several people, including my son, vouch for their deliciousness.  They were also very simple to make!  Next time your bananas turn brown, remember this recipe...

p.s. My kids and I die laughing every time we watch this clip.

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls w/ Cream Cheese Glaze
Makes 10-12 rolls
Printable recipe

For rolls:

1 cup whole milk
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/2 cup mashed bananas (2 ripe bananas)
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Olive or canola oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon (or more)

For glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons milk

Heat the milk and 3 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.  Once butter has melted, remove from heat and let cool slightly (you want it to be warm to the touch, but not hot).  Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and then sprinkle the yeast over the milk and butter mixture.  Let sit for 10 minutes.  Then add the mashed bananas, 1 tablespoon of sugar and the salt, and stir.  Slowly add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a springy dough is formed.  On a lightly-floured surface, remove dough and knead for a minute or two.  Rinse out mixing bowl, and coat with olive or canola oil.  Form dough into a ball and place in bowl, seam-side down.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for an hour until dough doubles in size.  Remove from bowl, and again on a lightly-floured surface, roll out dough to a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.  Melt the rest of the butter in the microwave, and then pour over dough.  Sprinkle with remaining granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Starting with the shorter end, roll into a log, seam-side down.  Using a serrated knife, cut into rolls, and place in a round (or square) lightly-greased cake pan.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Once preheated, bake rolls for 28-30 minutes.  While rolls are baking, whisk glaze ingredients together.  Pour over baked rolls, and enjoy!

Veggie Hash and Eggs

Has anyone been to Prime Meats in Brooklyn, New York?  Go!  Go, go, go, go, go.  I've actually only been once, but they have the best brunch and NO, I'm not just saying that because I was sans children which meant I could actually hear myself think and eat my food while it was hot (and YES, there was also booze).  First of all, they put warm, buttery biscuits on the table with jam and salted butter and they were the best I've ever had.  For my meal, I ordered a veggie hash with eggs (it was also available with meat) that was essentially roasted root vegetables and kale underneath two over sunny-side-up eggs.  I had to recreate it at home, and here's what I did...

I diced up one butternut squash, one rutabaga and one fennel bulb into little bite-sized squares.  I drizzled it with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roasted it in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes (I didn't have kale, otherwise I would have added that, too).  Then, I made crispy eggs, placed them on top of the veggies, served it alongside an arugula salad, and it was dinner!  But it would also be a perfect breakfast or brunch, even with your kids :)   

Pollinator Workshop

Happy Earth Day Pollinators Workshop!

When: Saturday April 23, 2016

Time: 10:00 am-12:00 noon

Where: Burnaby Village Museum, Discover Room

6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby



Costs: $ 5.00



Who should attend? All ages! Parents and kids interested in bees and their impact on your garden. Did you know that up to one-third of all our foods depends on bees? They have an important job in ensuring that we have access to food! Because this is what your grocery store would look like without bees! 



Let's give them all the help they need to survive! To start, why not...





Join beekeeper Andrew Scott and biologist Robyn Worcester on Saturday April 23rd in this collaborative workshop held at the Burnaby Village Museum. 



View an active demonstration hive, observe bee BEE-haviour (sorry, I could not resist!) and learn more about the physical structures of the bees and their hive.



This is a great opportunity to learn more about these very important insects! Or find out more about the City of Burnaby's mason bee condo volunteer program!



To register, please visit:  



https://www.burnaby.ca/About-Burnaby/News-and-Media/Newsroom/Happy-Earth-Day-Pollinator-Workshop_s2_p5587.html